Detachable device for partially supporting a small child on a conventional toilet seat

ABSTRACT

The device includes two elongated flat members that can be fully telescoped together when the device is not in use and extended when it is to be used. Resilient clips at the spaced ends of the telescopically received members hold the device in place on any conventional toilet seat for use by small children.

United States Patent Thompson Jan. 21, 1975 DETACHABLE DEVICE FORPARTIALLY 1,247,161 11/1917 Silverman 297/251 SUPPORTING A SMALL CHILI)A 1,322,823 133%; Eiehl mks 333;

, evme CONVENTIONAL TOILET SEAT 2,645,785 7/1953 Bergman 4/239 [76]Inventor: Elizabeth B. Thompson, 4337 Ewing 2,852,785 9/1958 Mikola297/250 X Ave. S., Minneapolis, Minn. 55410 d: 6, Primary ExaminerHenryK. Artis [22*] Fl 6 Mar 1973 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Stuart R. Peterson[21] Appl. No.: 338,630

[57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl 4/1, 4/185 S, 4/185 R 51] 1111.01 A47k 17/00The devlce Includes two elongated flat members that [58] Field of Search4/1, 239, 185 AB, 185 B, can be fully telescoped together when thedeviceis 4/185 S; 297/250 251 252 253 254 192 not in use and extended when itiS (0 be used. Resilient clips at the spaced ends of the telescopicallyre- [56] References Cited ceived members hold the device in place on anycon- Silver 297/251 X ventional toilet seat for use by small children.

9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENIEI] JANZI I975 llllll 0 NM wDETACHABLE DEVICE FOR PARTIALLY SUPPORTING A SMALL CHILD ON ACONVENTIONAL TOILET SEAT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of theInvention This invention relates generally to toilet seats, and pertainsmore particularly to a detachable device for use on a toilet seat forsupporting a small child.

2. Description of the Prior Art The prior art is replete with variouscontrivances for supporting small children when using a toilet. Some arein the form of small chairs that are simply superimposed upon theconventional seat. These have the basic shortcoming of occupying aconsiderable amount of space, and their use by parents traveling withsmall children pose obvious problems. Flexible attachments, usually ofcloth or canvas, have been devised but these cannot readily be cleanedafter each use. Resort has even been made to disposable toilet seats foruse by infants, but these seats can prove to be quite costly and alsohave the drawback of taking up space, particularly if any number istaken along on a trip.

Other devices with which I am acquainted require that parts bepermanently attached either to a conventional toilet seat or the seatmodified sufficiently so as to permit a given attachment to be usedtherewith. Quite obviously, those requiring modification of the seatitself cannot be carried from place to place.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, one object of the presentinvention is to provide a device for use by small children inassociation with a conventional toilet seat, the device being adjustableto fit any normal toilet seat.

Another object is to provide a device of the foregoing character thatwill accommodate children of various ages and sizes.

Another object is to provide a detachable device for toilet seats thatwill be firmly held and not readily shift when being used, yet which canbe quickly detached when not needed.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device that can becollapsed or telescoped to permit it to be carried from place to placewhile traveling. In this respect, the invention has for an aim theprovision of a device that will be lightweight as well as compact.

Still further, the invention has for an object the provision of a deviceof this type that is hygienically satisfactory, being easily wiped cleanafter each use.

Further, the invention has for an object the provision of a device thatwill be inexpensive to manufacture, thereby encouraging its widespreaduse.

Still another object is to provide a device for use by small childrenthat requires no modification of the conventional seat or any portion ofthe toilet. More specifically, an aim of the invention is to obviate theneed for any permanent fasteners, my device being completely portable.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device that will notdamage or mar any sufac'es, either those associated with the usualtoilet or those apt to be encountered when the device is not being used.

Briefly, my invention includes a pair of telescopically mated members.One elongated member, being tubular, has a rectangular passage extendinginwardly from one end thereof which slidably receives a second elongatedmember constituting a rectangular strip. In this way, when the device isnot needed, the strip can be moved inwardly so that it is fully receivedwithin the tubular member, thereby enabling the device to be readilycarried from place to place. There is a resilient clip at each outer endof the two elongated members, each clip having a pad of compressiblematerial mounted thereon. Hence, the clips can be sprung so as toresiliently engage the sides of the toilet seat or preferably the sidesof the bowl rim when being used. The clips prevent inadvertent shiftingof the device from the specific location where it is placed, therebyenabling the device to be located so as to very the size of seat openingin order to accommodate children of various ages. When not being used,the resilient clips assume a confronting relationship with the tubularelongated member, thereby permitting the device to be carried in atravelers luggage or conveniently place within an automobile, such asunder the vehicles front seat.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of atoilet with my device straddling the seat thereof;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken in the direction of line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of my device as it appears in FIG. 1 butwith the toilet seat deleted;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken in the direction of line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective detail showing one way in which the resilientclip at the left may be anchored to the elongated member at the left,and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view corresponding generally to FIG. 2 but with mydevice collapsed so that it can be stored.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring first to FIG. 1, atypical toilet has been pictured in its entirety, the toilet having beengiven the reference numeral 10. Although the parts of the toilet 10 areconventional and well known, it will be helpful, it is believed, inappreciating the benefits to be derived from a practicing of myinvention to identify the various portions of the toilet in greaterdetail. Therefore, the toilet bowl has been labeled 12 having a rim 14at its upper edge. The usual tank has been assigned the referencenumeral 16. The lid for the toilet carries the reference numeral 18 andcooperates with the seat 20 to close the opening 22 in the seat. At thisstage, it will be appreciated that the rim l4 and the seat 20 will varyin width from manufacturer to manufacturer.

My device has been designated generally by the reference numeral 30. Itis comprised of two elongated members 32 and 34. These members 32, 34can be fabricated from a suitable plastic, such as rigid polyvinylchloride, high density polyethylene, polypropylene or nylon. Actually,one of the advantages of my invention is that it can be fabricated froma number of plastic materials, depending in large measure upon theequipment available for molding or extruding and also enabling themanufacturer to select the most economical plastic materials for adesired commercial embodiment of my device 30.

Describing the elongated member 32, it will be recognized that in theform illustrated it constitutes a rectangular tube 36 having flat upperand lower surfaces. In this regard, it has a rectangular passage 38extending inwardly from the right end 40. When so fabricated, the member32 can be extruded, the extrusion providing the passage 38.

Assuming that the extrusion technique has been adopted, then the passage38 initially extends completely from the right end 40 to the left end.However, in use, the left end is to be held in place with respect to thetoilet seat 20. Although discernible to a degree from FIG. 4, it isbelieved more readily understandable from FIG. that a plastic strip orinsert 42 is provided having a slot at 44, which can be cut with a saw.Secured within the slot 44 is one end of a resilient clip 46 in the formof a strip of spring steel that is normally biased into a U-shapedconfiguration as seen in FIG. 6. A pad 48 of sponge rubber or foamedplastic is adhered to the free end of the resilient strip or clip 46.

The cross section of the insert 42 corresponds to that of the passage 38so as to preferably be snugly received or press fitted into the left endof the rectangular passage 38. The insert 42 can be fixedly retained inthe left end of the passage 38 by an appropriate adhesive. However, whenthermoplastic materials are utilized for the members 32, 42, the two canbe secured together by conventional heat sealing techniques.

Turning now to a description of the member 34, it will be perceived thatit constitutes a single strip 50 having a rectangular cross sectioncommensurate with that of the passage 38. It will be understood that themembers 32, 34 are telescopically mated and that the strip 50 must slidewithin the passage 38.

Actually, the strip 50 can have the same cross section as the insert 42.Consequently, when fabricating the strip 50, only a single extrusion dieneed be utilized to produce a continuous strip that can be cut to formindividual strips 50 and inserts 42 of the proper lengths in the makingof a number of devices 30.

Corresponding generally to the slot 44 in the insert 42 is a slot 52 inthe right end of the strip 50. As with the slot 44, the slot 52 receivestherein one end portion of a resilient clip or strip 54, such as springsteel as mentioned when describing the clip 46. Still further, a pad 56is mounted on the clip 54 in the same fashion as is the pad 48.

With the preceding information in mind, it is believed that the mannerin which my device 30 is employed is readily understandable. Whencarried, it is collapsed as illustrated in FIG. 6. From FIG. 6 it willbe apparent that the resilient clips 54 assume a U-shaped relationshipwith their respective members 32 and 34, the pads 48, 56 thenconfronting the underside of the tubular member 32. The strips or clips46, 54 can be of fairly thin stock in that a large amount of resiliencyis not necessary.

However, when the device 30 is to ,be attached to a conventional toiletseat, such as the seat 20, the member 34 is extended or pulled from itsmated relationship with the member 32 as depicted in FIG. 6, there beingonly a sliding fit between these two members. Depending upon the widthof the toilet seat 20, the degree of extension is determined inaccordance with the particular width toilet seat that is encountered.The clips 46 and 54 are simply flexed downwardly so as to cause the pads48 and 56 to pressurally bear against the rim 14. In some instances, thepads 48, 56 will press against the outside side edges of the toiletseat.

Depending upon the size of the infant to be accommodated, the device 30can be shifted either forwardly or rearwardly from a midway position.More specifically, if the child is quite small, then the device will bepositioned closer to the front of the seat 20; on the other hand, if thechild is relatively large, then the device 30 will be moved rearwardly.It will be appreciated that the resilient clips 46, 54 hold the device30 in any selected position that is best for the particular child. Thechild receives some support from the forward part of the seat 20.However, the flat upper surfaces formed on the members 36 and 50underlie the buttocks of the child and provide comfortable support atthe rear.

When the device 30 is not needed, it is again collapsed into the compactform in which it appears in FIG. 6. It can then be conveniently carried,particularly when traveling, so that it is in immediate readiness forsubsequent use. Its stick-like flatness, as illustrated in FIG. 6,renders my device sufficiently thin so that it can be stowed withoutdifficulty under the front seat of an automobile.

Consequently, not only can the device 30 be extended to fit any width oftoilet seat that might be encountered when traveling, but it willaccommodate children of different ages. Further, it will be understoodthat my device 30 can be easily wiped clean, thereby enabling a highdegree of sanitation to be maintained which is important when traveling.

1. A detachable device for partially supporting a small child on aconventional toilet seat or toilet bowl comprising a first elongatedmember having a flat upper surface and a rectangular passage extendinginwardly from one end to a location near the other end thereof, a secondelongated member having a flat upper surface and a cross sectioncorresponding substantially to that of said passage so that one end ofsaid second member can be telescopically received within said passage,and respective means at the said other ends of said elongated member forengaging the opposite sides of a conventional toilet seat or theunderlying toilet bowl to maintain said first and second elongatedmembers at substantially the same elevation as the upper surface of saidseat or the upper surface of the toilet bowl, said engaging meansincluding a resilient clip at each outer end of said elongated members,whereby said members can be relatively extended from theirtelescopically received relation to a length sufficient to span theopening of the toilet seat or bowl for the partial support of a child atsaid substantially same elevation as the said upper surfaces of saidseat or bowl.

2. A detachable device in accordance with claim 1 in which the length ofsaid passage is substantially equal to the length of said second memberso that said one end of said second member can be positioned adjacentthe end of the passage near said one end of the first member with theconsequence that the other end of said second member projects onlyslightly from said passage.

3. A detachable device in accordance with claim 2 in which said membersare of plastic material.

4. A detachable device in accordance with claim 1 in which saidresilient clips are in the form of strips biased in a direction toconfront said first member when said second member is telescoped withinsaid first member.

5. A detachable device in accordance with claim 4 including a padattached to the confronting sides of said strips.

6. A detachable device in accordance with claim 5 in which said stripsare of spring steel.

7. A detachable device in accordance with claim 6 in which saidelongated members are of plastic material and end portions of saidstrips opposite said pads are anchored in the said other ends of saidmembers.

8. A detachable device for partially supporting a small child on aconventional seat or bowl of a toilet comprising a pair oftelescopically mated relatively rigid strip members, one of said membersbeing slidibly received within the other, and a second pair of thinnerrelatively flexible strip members having first end portions fixedlyanchored within the opposite end portions of said first members, thefirst end portions of said second members extending in the general planeof said first members and said second members having second end portionsextending downwardly from said first end portions so as to resilientlyengage the opposite sides of a conventional toilet seat or toilet bowlwhen said first members are extended to a length such as to have saidopposite end portions thereof supported on the upper surface of thetoilet seat or on the upper surface of the toilet bowl, said second endportions then engaging the opposite sides of the seat or bowl tomaintain said first members in a spanning relation with the opening ofsaid seat or bowl for the partial support of a child at the properelevation for using the toilet.

9. A detachable device in accordance with claim 8 in which said firststrip members are of plastic and said second members are of springsteel.

1. A detachable device for partially supporting a small child on aconventional toilet seat or toilet bowl comprising a first elongatedmember having a flat upper surface and a rectangular passage extendinginwardly from one end to a location near the other end thereof, a secondelongated member having a flat upper surface and a cross sectioncorresponding substantially to that of said passage so that one end ofsaid second member can be telescopically received within said passage,and respective means at the said other ends of said elongated member forengaging the opposite sides of a conventional toilet seat or theunderlying toilet bowl to maintain said first and second elongatedmembers at substantially the same elevation as the upper surface of saidseat or the upper surface of the toilet bowl, said engaging meansincluding a resilient clip at each outer end of said elongated members,whereby said members can be relatively extended from theirtelescopically received relation to a length sufficient to span theopening of the toilet seat or bowl for the partial support of a child atsaid substantially same elevation as the said upper surfaces of saidseat or bowl.
 2. A detachable device in accordance with claim 1 in whichthe length of said passage is substantially equal to the length of saidsecond member so that said one end of said second member can bepositioned adjacent the end of the passage near said one end of thefirst member with the consequence that the other end of said secondmember projects only slightly from said passage.
 3. A detachable devicein accordance with claim 2 in which said members are of plasticmaterial.
 4. A detachable device in accordance with claim 1 in whichsaid resilient clips are in the form of strips biased in a direction toconfront said first member when said second member is telescoped withinsaid first member.
 5. A detachable device in accordance with claim 4including a pad attached to the confronting sides of said strips.
 6. Adetachable device in accordance with claim 5 in which said strips are ofspring steel.
 7. A detachable device in accordance with claim 6 in whichsaid elongated members are of plastic material and end portions of saidstrips opposite said pads are anchored in the said other ends of saidmembers.
 8. A detachable device for partially supporting a small childon a conventional seat or bowl of a toilet comprising a pair oftelescopically mated relatively rigid strip members, one of said membersbeing slidibly received within the other, and a second pair of thinnerrelatively flexible strip members having first end portions fixedlyanchored within the opposite end portions of said first members, thefirst end portions of said second members extending in the general planeof said first members and said second members having second end portionsextending downwardly from said first end portions so as to resilientlyengage the opposite sides of a conventional toilet seat or toilet bowlwhen said first members are extended to a length such as to have saidopposite end portions thereof supported on the upper surface of thetoilet seat or on the upper surface of the toilet bowl, said second endportions then engaging the opposite sides of the seat or bowl tomaintain said first members in a spanning relation with the opening ofsaid seat or bowl for the partial support of a child at the properelevation for using the toilet.
 9. A detachable device in accordancewith claim 8 in which said first strip members are of plastic and saidsecond members are of spring steel.